William ii



(No Model.)

W. H. WOODWARD. COMBINED FILE, PACKAGE HOLDER, AND BINDER.

Patented. Nov. 25, 1890.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLI-AM II. \VOODl/VARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN OR OF TWO-THIRDS TO THOMAS MOGEE AND GEORGE KING, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED FILE, PACKAGE-HOLDER, AND BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,607, dated November 25, 1890. Application filed February 11, 1890. Serial No. 339,996. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. WooD- 'WARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a File, Package- Holder, and Binder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, that will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a file, package-holder, and binder for the preservation of papers, documents, &c., for easy reference, either temporarily or permanently, the same consisting of certain novel features in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the different parts, as will be hereinafter set forth.

Figure l is a view in perspective of a device embodying my improved features, the dotted lines indicating the outlines of a packet clamped in the file; Fig. 2, a view of the under side of the bottom clamping=plate, and Fig. 3 a brokeiraway sectional detail of one of the hinged ratchet-straps and clasps engaging with the same.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the top clamping-plate, and B the bottom plate. These plates are shown of a rectangular form, but it is obvious that'they may be of any desired shape and thicknessin accordance with the dimensions of the papers or packet to be filed. The top plate A is provided at its respective ends with the hinge-straps a a, rig idly secured thereto. Each of these straps is provided with the knuckles a a.

The clasps O O are composed of a single piece of wire bent in the form shown, the respective ends being bent at ri ht angles to the body thereof and made to engage with the knuckles of the stationary hinge-straps a a. The bottom plate B is provided at each end with the hinge-straps b b, rigidly secured in place. To these stationary straps is hinged one end of the elongated ratchet-straps D D by means of the usual hinge-joint b b. The hinged straps D D are provided with the series of ratchet teeth d, formed on their sur face by punching or stamping out a portion of the material, leaving the part stamped out attached at. one side, as shown.

Then the device is in use, the hinged ratchet straps are turned up to the vertical position shown in Fig. 1, and the papers or other matter to be filed or secured in the form of a packet are placed on the bottom plate and the top plate placed in position and the hinged clasps thereof turned down and made to engage with the hinged ratchet-straps, thus clamping or binding the papers between the. respective upper and lower plates. The under side of thebottom plate is providedlongitudinally with the shallow groove or recess (1 to receive the ratchet-teeth of the hinged straps D D When the same are turned underneath, as shown in Fig. 2. The hinged clasps of the upper plate are also adapted to fold parallel with the top plate, thus providing for the compact folding of a number of the devices together for transportation.

The lower plate shows two flat springs E E, secured to the upper side thereof. These springs are fastened near their longitudinal center by the rivets g g, the ends being loose.

When the device is to be used for filing papers, these springs will be omitted, as such matter, being of an elastic character, will render the use of the springs unnecessary. The springs, therefore, will be used when the nature of the matter forming the packet is of a solid character.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described,

the combination of the top clamping-plate provided at each end With hinge-clasps, and the bottom clampingplate provided at each end with the hinged ratchet straps with which the hinged clasps are adapted 'to engage in clamping a packet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Ina device of the character described,

the top clamping or binding plate, the hinged 5 straps rigidly secured to the respective ends of the same, the wire clasps formed from a single piece of Wire and having the ends bent at right angles to the body thereof and engaging with and having ahinged jointin said rigid straps, the bottom plate, the rigid hinged straps secured to each end, the ratchet-straps having a hinged connection With the rigid straps on the bottom plate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination, with the bottom plate, of the straps hinged to the respective ends thereof and provided along their surfaces with a number of ratchetteeth, and a clasp or binderadapted to pass over the top of a packet and engage with said ratchet-straps, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. The bottom plate provided longitudinally in the under side with a groove or recess, in combination With the ratchet-straps hinged to the respective ends thereof and adapted to turn underneath said plate, the ratchet-teeth nesting in said recess, substantially as described.

\VILLIAM ll. XVOODW'ARD.

Witnesses:

L. M. FREEMAN, J. B. DONALSON. 

